[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 17, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           BIG OIL DOESN'T NEED ANY MORE HELP FROM WASHINGTON

  (Mr. STUPAK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, during the past 4 years big oil companies 
have seen their profits quadruple, while gas prices doubled and America 
continues to depend on foreign oil to operate our cars and our economy.
  Yet, the Republican Congress did not think this was enough. They 
chose to give Big Oil billions in tax breaks and outrageous royalty 
incentives, instead of working to protect consumers and promote 
alternative energy.
  Today we are sending $800 million per day to the Middle East and 
other oil producing countries. America now has record high dependence 
on foreign oil, and the need is growing.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress must support consumers instead of Big Oil. 
Democrats have put forth a bill to increase our investment in renewable 
energy and put our Nation on a path to energy independence. The first 
step is to repeal the billions of dollars in subsidies given to Big Oil 
so that America can instead invest that money in clean and renewable 
energy sources.
  Beginning the process of curbing our addiction to foreign oil is one 
of the main priorities of the Democratic Congress during the first 100 
hours. I hope Democrats and Republicans will come together and pass 
this commonsense legislation that will promote our national and 
economic security.

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